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. I APPHCATION FILED AUG-21.19!!!- 1,310,895.

E. SCHNEIDER.

APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE comsusnom m FUSES FOR SHELLS.

2 SHEETS-SHE ET I.

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ma COLUMBIA PLANDORAPH :0" WASHINGTON, D. c.

Patented July 22, 1919..

E. SCHNEIDER.

APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE COMBUSTION IN FUSES FOR SHELLS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.21. I9I8. 1,3 10,895. Patented July 22, 1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- XV MA, W f b444 THE COLUMBIA PLANOGRAPH co., WASHINGTON, n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EUGENE SCHNEIDER, OF PARIS, FRANCE, ASSIGNOR TO SCHNEIDER & (HE, 013 PARIS, FRANCE, A LIMITED JOINT STOCK CO-MPANY OF FRANCE.

APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE COMBUSTION IN FUSES FOR SHELLS.

Application filed August 21, 1918.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE SCHNEIDER, a citizen of the French Republic, and a resident of 42 Rue dAnjou, Paris, France, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus for Regulating the Combustion in Fuses for Shells, which invention is fully set forth in the following specification.

This invention relates to time fuses, and particularly to devices for controlling the escape of gases therefrom.

As is well known, time fuses are provided with vents or orifices for the escape of the gases generated by the combustion of the fuse composition, the latter being generally accommodated in rings or plates.

With fuses heretofore in use, it has been extremely difficult to determine in a satisfactory manner the proper size or crosssection of the escape orifices for assuring a regular and certain combustion. More par ticularly, when it is desired to use one and the same type of fuse for firing at elevations differing considerably from one another, it has been found that a size of the orifices which is suitable for firing the gun at low elevations is very defective when the gun is fired at high elevations, and in such cases premature extinguishing of the fuse is very frequent.

Numerous causes, among Which may be mentioned variations of barometric pressure and variations of temperature atdiiferent points of the trajectory of the projectile, variously aflect the rapidity of combustion of the fuse composition. Therefore, a size of opening which would be suitable for the escape of the gases at any elevation of the'gun in that portion of the trajectory that is near the muzzle of the gun, where the projectile is still subjected to a relatively high pressure, generally becomes gradually too great as the pressure acting upon the projectile diminishes irrespective of the causes of such diminution.

It is obvious that it would be extremely diificult if not impossible,'to predetermine the size of opening for the escape of the gases which would be suitable, under the varying conditions of pressure, throughout the trajectory.

The present invention has for its object to provide an improved apparatus which provides an automatic regulation of the size of opening for the escape of thegases i 8 9' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 22, 1919.

Serial No. 250,870.

cordance with the variations in the pressure acting upon the projectile at different points of its trajectory.

The improved apparatus consists essentially of a valve or damper adapted to control the escape orifice or orifices formed or provided in the body of the fuse, said valve being so constructed that it is subjected both to the variable pressure acting upon the projectile and to an opposing force produced, for instance, by a suitably adjusted spring. It will be perceived that by adjusting the position of the valve and the opposing force in such a manner that, before firing, the valve uncovers little or nothing of the escape orifices, whereas on coming under the influence of the pressure in the neighborhood of the muzzle of the gun, it uncovers them completely, the mobility of the valve permits the latter to assume during the flight of the projectile, for intermediate values of the pressure acting upon the projectile, corresponding intermediate positions to which will correspond openings of different size for the escape of the gases. In other words, the size of the opening for the escape of the gases will always depend upon the pressure acting exteriorly upon the projectile.

The invention is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions, two of which are shown on the accompanying drawings, but it is to be expressly understood that the drawings are for purposes of illustration only and are not to be construed as a definition of the limits of the invention reference being had to the appended claims for that purpose.

In these drawings Figures 1 and 2 are longitudinal sections of one embodiment of the invention, showing two extreme positions of the movable valve and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of a modification, the vmovable valve being shown in its position of rest.

Referring to the drawings, the usual orifices b for the escape of the gases from the fuse body may be formed in the usual manner in a kind of lantern B fixed to the fuse body A or in any other suitable part fixed to the latter.

Upon, or in this lantern, there is mounted the longitudinally movable valve member 0 which is provided with an internal projection C (Figs. 1 and 2), or an external projection C (Fig. 3), which serves to guide and limit the movement of said valve by An element C of the movable valve is ar ranged to receive externally the action of the variable pressure to which the projec tile is subjected during flight, while the valve is also subjected to an opposing force shown as exerted, for example, by a spring D which bears at one end upon a fixed part of the fuse or projectile andat' its other end upon'the valve. The valve is provided'with orifices 0 equal in number to the orifices b and adapted to be movedinto and out of register with the latter.-

In Figs. 1 and 2, wherein the' valve is shown as positioned exteriorly of the lantern, the element C may take the form ofa cap suitably attached t'o'the sleevelike body of the valve, as by screw-threaded engagement therewith. In Fig. 3, wherein the valve is shown as positioned interiorly of the lantern, the'valve and element C may be made in one piece. In the latter modification, the lantern is provided wtih a removable annular end-piece which admits pres sure to the element C said end-piece: being shown as in screw-threaded engagement with the body of the'lantern.

In its state of rest (Fig. 1;),.the valve 0 is caused by the action of the spring D to take a position such that its imperforate portion partially covers the'orifices b: By the action f the maximum external'pressure to which the projectile is subjected (Fig; 2), the valve is moved into a position in which it entirely uncovers the orifices 1). During the flight of theprojectile the'valve assumes different intermediate positions which cor respond to the pressure acting upon'the projectile. M

It is to be understood'that the lantern B and valve C may be provided with any suitable device which would permit regulation of thetension of the spring D when assembling the fuse.

Instead of regulating'the escape of the gases by means of the movable valve and a device for opposing movement thereof of the type here shown, wherein a movable perforate member moves with respect to a fixed perforate member, the desired regulation may be efl'ected by any other suitabl'e'valve', such for instance as a tapering spindle or a needle'movably mounted in an es'capeconduit.

While the illustrated embodiments; have been described withconsiderable particularity, it is to be expressly understood that the invention is not to be limited to the forms shown, as the same is capable of receiving a variety of mechanical expressions. Reference is to be had to theappended claims for a definition of the limits of the invention.

What is claimed is 1. In apparatus for regulating the combustionof the fuses of projectiles, in combination with the fuse body provided with one or more orifices for the escape of the gases, a valve controlled by the exterior pressure to which the projectile is subjected during its flight for regulating the size of said orifice.

2. In apparatus for regulating the combustion of the fuses of projectiles, in combination with the fuse body provided with one or more orifices for the escape of the gases, a valve controlled by the exterior pressure to which the projectile is subjected during its flight for regulating the size of said orifice, and means for opposing movement of said valve by said exterior pressure.

3. In apparatus for regulating the combustion of the fuses of projectiles, incombination with the fuse body provided with one or more orifices for the escape of the gases, a: valve member provided with one or more orifices adapted to register with the first-mentioned orifices and adapted to be moved-to vary the size of the first-mentioned orifices by the pressure to which the projectile is subjected during its flight.

4.. In apparatus for regulating the combustion of' the fuses'of projectiles, in combination with the fuse body provided with one or more orifices for the escape of the gases,-a valve'member provided with one or more orifices adapted to register with the first-mentioned orifices and adapted to be moved to-vary the size of the first-mentioned orifices by the pressure to which the projectile is subjected during its flight, and means for opposing movement of said valve mem- 5. In apparatus for regulatingthe combustion ofthe'fuses of projectiles, in combination with the fuse body provided with one or more orifices for the escape of the gases, a sleeve-like valve member provided With one'or more orifices adapted-to register with said first-mentioned orifices, and an element connected thereto and'movedby the pressure to which the projectile is subjected during its flight to move said valve member.

6. In apparatus for regulatingthe combustion of the fusesof projectiles, in combination with the fuse body provided with one or more orifices for the escape of the gases, a sleeve-like valve member provided with one or more orifices adapted to register with said first-mentioned orifices, an element connected thereto an'd'movedby the pressure to which the projectile is subjected during its fiight' to move said valve member, and a spring for opposing said movement.

7; In apparatus for regulating the com bustionof the fuses of projectiles, in combination with the fuse body provided with one or more apertures, a valve member movable within said fuse body and provided with one or more apertures adapted to register with said first-mentioned apertures, said fuse body being provided with an opening to permit said valve member to be subjected to the pressure to which the projectile is subjected during its flight.

8. In apparatus for regulating the combustionof the fuses of projectiles, in combination with the fuse body provided with one or more apertures, a valve member movable within said fuse body and provided with one or more apertures adapted to register with said first-mentioned apertures, said fuse body being provided with an opening to permit said valve member to be subjected to the pressure to which the projectile is subjected during its flight, and a spring for opposing movement of said valve member.

9. In apparatus for regulating the .combustion of the fuses of projectiles, in combination with the fuse body provided with one or more apertures, a valve member automatically operable during the flight of the projectile to vary the size of said aperture or apertures in accordance with the pressure acting exteriorly on said projectile.

In testimony whereof I have signed this 30 specification.

EUGENE SCHNEIDER.

Witnesses ANDRE Mos'rIoKER, JOHN F. SIMONS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, I). G. 

